Good Friends

Late last week we planned a last-minute trip to St. Louis – Andy’s grandfather was ill and we wanted to go visit him sooner rather than later. The only thing was, Saturday Sam’s birthday.

I was a little worried that Sam’s birthday was going to get lost in the shuffle, and I wanted to make sure we made the day special for him, even with everything else that was going on.

I emailed my friend Gina, who lives outside St. Louis, asking where I should order a Cardinals birthday cake, and she immediately wrote back saying she’d make him one.

Later that day, I was IM’ing with my friend Beth, telling her about our trip and my concern about Sam’s birthday. “Are the Cardinals in town?” she asked me. “You should take him to the game.” Next thing I know, she says she’s arranged for four tickets to be waiting for us at will call.

Saturday morning, Gina drove into the city and delivered this:

Needless to say, Sam loved it.

Later, we surprised Sam by taking him to the baseball game.

Sam had a great third birthday, in no small part because I have such good friends.

We are both pretty lucky.

Post to Twitter

Keepin’ It Real. Real Dirrrty.

That’s right, dirrty.  With three r’s.  Like Christina Aguilera.

On Sunday nights, we go to our small group from church which we call house church.  Last night it was time for just the guys to meet, and I thought to myself, “Hmm, do I really want to be alone with these kids from 5:30-8:00?  No, I do not.”  So I sent out a quick text to the ladies of house church and asked if they wanted to bring their kids over for an impromptu play date.  Cortney, Celia, and our friend Jen (who does not blog, LAME!) replied that they would be right over.  When I sent this text, I was in the car on the way home from a birthday party, and as soon as we got home, Bobby had to jet to get to house church.  So the house was pretty much in the manic state of disarray it was when we left for the birthday party.  I picked up a few things so that you could, you know, walk through the rooms, but the place wasn’t exactly *spotless*.  (And really, when is it?)

This is what I love about my group of friends.  I can have them over and not feel like I have to clean up.  And then, when they get there, they say things like, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I am so glad your house looks like this!  It makes me feel so much better!”

And we laugh.

And our kids make the house an even bigger mess than it was. (After we forced them to play outside for as long as possible.)

And we let them do it so we can just be together.

Which makes cleaning it up later totally worth it.

Even when Celia’s little *angel* does this in my bathroom.

I love you dirrty girls!

Post to Twitter

Love the ones you’re with

I’ve been thinking about this for over a month, but I haven’t been able to figure out how to say it. So bear with me as I muddle through.

The internet is great.  I love that I have a place to come and spew forth my thoughts, my stories, my grief, my craziness, my joys.  I love sharing this space with Emily, one more gift in a life we’ve shared as cousins and friends.

And I love the friends I’ve made through blogging, near and far.

But mostly near.  Because there are amazing ladies I’ve met through blogging who actually live near me, and we’ve had the joy of investing in each other’s lives face-to-face.  You know who you are, #bigdealmoms!

So when I leave a blogging conference and everyone is all mushy-gushy about how much they miiiiiiissss each other and how they’re going through withdrawal, the cynical jerkwad in me just can’t buy it.  Maybe it’s just because I’m fortunate enough to have people.  I’ve got cousins and brothers and sisters-in-law and really wonderful friends, real-live in-the-flesh people. And as much as I love the blogging community, it’s my girlfriend down the street that I want to be mushy-gushy about.  The one who watches my kids when I’m in a pinch or helps me clean my house before my kid’s birthday party, and vice versa.  The one who knows my crap, sees me lookin’ like a hobo, and tells me I’m ok when I think I’m losing my mind.  It’s those people, my family and my friends that I love like family, that I want to embrace and be joyful with every time I see them.  Even if I just saw them yesterday.

So, there, I said it.

Let  the ones you’re with, be the ones you love.  And love the crap out of them!

Post to Twitter